Package-covering machine.



No. 797,773. PATENTED AUG. 22, 1905. H. INMAN.

PACKAGE COVERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION rum: APR.1B.1900.

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No. 797,773. PATENTED AUG. 22, 1905. H. INMAN.

PACKAGE COVERING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED Ar3.1a.19o0.

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APPLICATION rum) APR.18,1900.

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N0. 797,773. PATENTED AUG. 22, 1905.

H. INMAN.

PACKAGE COVERING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED APE.1B,1900.

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UNITED A,

PAIENT ()FFIGE.

PACKAGE-COVERING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 22, 1905.

Application filed April 18, 1900. Serial No. 13.348.

To all whom it may coll/earn:

Be it known that I, HORACE INMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Amsterdam, in the county of Montgomery and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPackage-Covering Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for applying covering-sheets to boxesand packages, more especially to packages closed at the ends; and'myinvention consists in the combination, with the means for supporting,guiding, pasting, and cutting a continuous strip, of clamps forengaging, holding, and rotating the box or package and for arresting themovement on the completion of each rotation, together with means forsupporting the package and certain details of construction, all as fullyset forth hereinafter and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings,in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the general character ofthe box-covering machine to which my improvements are applied. Fig. 2 isan enlarged side view of the parts immediately connected with saidimprove ments. Fig. 3 is an end view of the parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig.4 is a plan. view of the parts shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

In Fig. 1 I have illustrated the general features of the apparatus,embodying a frame A, reel B for a continuous strip of paper, paster C,guides D, E, and F, cutter G, and package supporting and turning deviceIQ.

As all the parts except the package supporting and turning devicecorrespond in construction and operation to those in ex isting machines,I will not describe the same in detail, but will refer to the featuresconnected with the package supporting and turning device embodying myimprovements.

In the said device there are clamps K K adapted to be moved outward andinward and when moved inward to make contact with the ends of thepackage within the periphery of the ends and without extending over thesides of the package and to turn the same, one or both of the saidclamps being positively rotated. As shown, means are employed forpositively rotating both of the clamps.

A holding device I is provided with a vertically-movable frame a betweenand below the clamps and which consists of two V- shaped brackets 6 6,each adjustably secured to a cross-bar 5 by nuts, as shown in Fig. 3. Aspring 7 presses upward against the frame a, tending to lift the same,and bears upon a collar of a guiderod 8, and a rod 9, connected with theframe a, is also connected with the treadle H, which may be depressed bythe foot to lower the supporting device I. A spring 10 aids in raisingthe treadle H and connected parts.

Each of the clamps K K is mounted upon a shaft 12, turned by means of aworm and wheel (dotted lines, Fig. 3) within a box 13 from a shaft 14,the two shafts 14 being geared together by a transverse shaft 15 anddouble gears and one of the shafts 14 deriving its motion from the maindriving-shaft through devices which may be connected and disconnected bymovements of a cable 16, connected with the treadle H, but not requiringdescription here.

One of the clamps-as, for instance, the clamp K is secured to its shaft12 so as to turn therewith, but slide thereon, a spring 17 throwing theclamp inward, and a fork 18 enters an annular groove of the clamp K andis connected with devices by means of which it may be shifted to throwthe clamp outward, thus separating the clamps to receive the packagebetween them. As shown, the fork 18 is supported by a pivoted lever 20,-connected by rod 21 with a treadle J, which may be depressed by the footto open the clamps.

The supporting device I is normallyin position. to afford a rest for thepackage and. support it with one edge or corner uppermost until grippedby the clamps, after which by pressure on the treadle If the supportingdevice is withdrawn to such a position as will permit the rotation ofthe package.

In order that the clamps may occupy always the same position instarting, one of the clamp-shafts 12, Fig. 2, is provided with an arm ordisk 22, having a shoulder s, which is engaged by a pawl 23, to an armof which is connected a rod 24, attached at its lower end to the treadleH. When, therefore, the treadle is depressed to withdraw the support ingdevice and to start the rotation of the clamps, the pawl 23 is drawnback and releases the disk 22, so that the clamps and the packagebetween them may rotate. As the lever H is released the pawl 23 isbrought against the edge of the disk 22, but does not prevent the risingof the treadle inasmuch as the rod 24 eXtends through an opening in thearm of the pawl and carries a spring 29, bearing on said arm and on acollar 30 on the rod, so that the latter may rise independently of thepawl, which, however, swings into place as the shoulder s is broughtinto engaging position.

By the combination of parts above described each package is started inprecisely the same position, so that the strip of paper which is drawnforward by the operator and is applied with its pasted side against theface of the package is presented in like manner to all of the packages.This is especially important when the strips are printed with readingmatter, panels, &c., which should be symmetrically disposed upon thevarious sides of the package.

By the construction described further it is possible to grip and rotatepackages which are closed at the ends, and the clamps are of such acharacter as to grip the ends securely without slippage. For instance,their sur faces are serrated, as shown.

Further, it will be seen that each package is effectively supporteduntil it is clamped and that the package cannot begin to turn until thesupport has been removed out of position to be struck by the package inits rotation.

After the package has rotated to carry the strip to a position to besevered by the cutter V the latter is operated as usual, and theoperator then carries the loose end of the strip onto and pastes itagainst the face of the package. As the devices for operating the cutterare those used in existing machinery, it is not necessary to describethe same, al though it will be understood that any suitable cuttingdevices may be employed.

l/Vithout limiting myself to the precise arrangement and construction ofparts shown, I claim as my invention 1. The combination with the papersupporting, guiding, pasting and cutting devices, of rotary clamps, oneprovided with a disk having a notch and shoulder s, a dog bearing upon adisk, a treadle connected with the dog through connections movableindependent of the dog, and a spring-bearing for said connections,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with the devices for supporting, pasting, guiding andcutting a continuous strip, of clamps for holding the package, a shaftgeared to turn the clamps, a treadle connected with the startingmechanism of said shaft, a detent for arresting the rotation of theclamps, and connections be tween the detent and the treadle,substantially as described.

3. The combination with rotating clampsfor holding a package, of meansfor separating the clamps to receive the package, a support for holdingthe package between the clamps, and means for moving the said supportafter the package is clamped, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with the rotating clamps and movable support for thepackage, of a treadle connected with said support, substantially as setforth.

5. The combination with the clamps and means for rotating the same, ofstarting and stopping devices a treadle connected with the stopping andstarting devices, a support for the package, and connections between thetreadle and support, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with rotary clamps and means for turning the same, ofa supporting-frame provided with diverging arms, the said armsadjustable in position on the frame, substantially as described.

7. The combination of the clamps, pivoted frame a, spring for elevatingthe frame, support carried by the frame, and treadle connected with theframe, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

HORACE INMAN.

Vitnesses:

H. B. l/VALDRON, CHAS. TV. CLARK.

